What Does a Dentist Do?
For a dentist to successfully practice his trade they will have completed four years of undergraduate school concentrating on the health sciences followed by another four years in the dental sciences. Nine dedicated branches or disciplines are recognized by the ADA, or American Dental Association. There are actually quite a few different things a dentist could do regarding your appointment. Starting with the family dentist who focuses on helping you maintain preventive care to the specialized areas that either address specific issues or to introduce a treatment or solution.
What to Expect from your Family Dentist?
The health industry recommends that you see your family dentist at least twice a year. These simple preventative examinations include a full evaluation of the condition of your mouth, teeth, and gums. They begin with x-rays to monitor any issues below your gumline. A history will be built, reviewed, and summarized of your exams, so any changes are recorded and can be addressed. They probe the teeth to see if any enamel has become soft suggesting cavities. They check your bite pattern which is important in the development of children. Now they examine your gums and the pockets around each tooth. Healthy pockets will have a certain depth. If they measure a pocket that exceeds the desired depth it can be an indicator of gum disease. Your family dentist will perform an oral screening checking your lips, tongue, cheeks, and neck for any sign of oral cancer.
Finally, your dental practice will professionally clean your teeth, removing the damaging buildup of plaque. This plaque is the primary source of both cavities and gum disease.
Specific Procedures that are Common
You might want to have your teeth professionally whitened at the dental office. Their results will far exceed any at-home kits. Many of us just do not realize is that your dental teammate appreciates the value of your smile. Your smile is absolutely foundational in establishing your personality through your level of self-confidence and self-esteem. Teeth whitening is an incredibly simple improvement. Your dentist might suggest that a gap can be addressed between two teeth, or a crack or chip be corrected. If the exam identified a cavity your dentist will remove the diseased tissue and then fill the hole with a dental filling. If they find any indication of gum disease, they could refer you to a periodontist who can specifically correct the soft tissue. They could do a deep scaling and root planing treatment to remove the plaque, which is the sole source of the gum disease. An endodontist might be necessary for a root canal procedure if you have a cracked tooth that now has an infection. An orthodontist specializes in the alignment of the teeth, with the application of orthodontic braces or trays that move the teeth to a desired location.
Cosmetic dentistry offers visually pleasing porcelain veneers, or treatments associated with dental implants, or dental bridges or a wide variety of denture solutions available today.
Your oral health plays a big and unappreciated role in who you are. It is also an essential component of your entire body. Your dentist is indeed an invaluable member of your personal health team.